by Duane Carling
“Car Week” is certainly aptly named. From Monday, August 14th, to Sunday the 20th there are more car auctions, vintage races, receptions and art shows than one person could possibly attend. Gorgeous cars, gorgeous people, aircraft, boats, food, drink, you name it and it’s at Monterey. You just have to pick which ones you like the best, and mourn the passing of the rest.
On Sunday the 20th I was reading Dan Neil, one of my favorite writers, who writes Rumble Seat in the Weekend Edition of the WSJ. His piece was about Ferrari celebrating their 70th year by showing another 200 MPH super car at Monterey, and all the pride, heritage, provenance and racing bonafides that goes with that. Dan’s premise was “There are some things more important than money.” While I agree with that generally, in the car world that’s a pretty radical concept.
Hold onto that idea.
Tuesday the 15th we showed the GT 350 on the Streets of Carmel Concourse by invitation.
Clint Eastwood was mayor there for a time, so showing an unmuffled, fire breathing dragon with the politically INCORRECT heritage of Carroll Shelby may possibly not land us in jail. Some of the nice policeman even came by and asked us to start ‘er up. Umm….OK.
Wednesday we took our car to a reception at the McCall’s Jet Center.
Want to upgrade your personal jet, or pick up some other new toy? McCall’s Motorworks Revival Event is billed as “one of the most exclusive lifestyle events of its kind in the country.” Some people “of a certain age” remember the 1965 Mustang, on which the GT 350 is based, and are anxious to share their memories with you.
Yes, thanks; but no, I just work here. Fun time, nice people. We’ve been there the last couple of years.
Thursday was a wine reception in the rose garden at the Bernardus Winery in Carmel Valley.
It was hosted by the Shelby organization. The big event was unveiling a 427 powered Daytona Coupe built by the Kirkhams out of Provo (as in Utah). The nose has been stretched about 6 inches to accommodate the big block.
Apparently such a Coupe was built by Shelby in 1964 or 5, but never raced. I thought I’d heard every Shelby story ever invented, but I must have missed that one. All of our friends were there.
Friday was Laguna Seca track day. Being Ferrari’s 70th birthday and all, they wanted most of the available track time. We were the poster child (literally) last year for our 50th anniversary, so “let’s just show the car and avoid the track wear” was the plan of the day.
Saturday we arrived early (6:30 A.M.) at the Concourso Italiano on the Black Horse Golf Course in the hills above Monterey.
Some really nice Ferraris, Lambos, Masers, etc. Some I’d never seen before, and they all drove in.
More hearing loss and brain damage… oh well. Our car was positioned by the reviewing stand so our ladies got to sit in the reviewing tent. Peter Brock was interviewed by a couple of TV stations standing in front of the car, and again on the stand at noon. Jim Marietta and Ted Sutton (The Original Venice Crew, along with Peter) were whisked back to Laguna Seca for a media event of some kind after lunch.
How we got to be an Honored Marque, after Ford/Shelby whipped Ferrari’s ass 4 years in a row at Le Mans in the 60’s, and then did it again for the 50th anniversary last year is a mystery. Maybe a clerical error. Nice time, good food, and great views over looking Monterey bay. The fog crept in on little cat’s feet at about 4 P.M.
By Sunday morning we were all anxious to leave, but Road & Track had a crew from New York that wanted to do a quick test drive and photo shoot in the hills above Monterey.
We finished about 3 P.M. Fortunately, I know the way across Nevada in the dark. Let ‘er rip ! We arrived home in Farmington Utah about 3 A.M.
Great times, good folks. If there are some things more important than money in the car business, as Dan Neil postulates, this may be one of them. But a few bucks does help, though.